Collapsible covered container or box



Aug 1943- n T. BUTTERY 2,447,563

COLLAPSIBLE COVERED CONTAINER OR BOX Filed April 11, 1947 INVENTOR.

4 172 4 15 BY @i l- 6M ATTORNEY Patented Au 24, 1948 a COLLAPSIBLE COVERED CONTAINER OR 130 Kenneth T. Buttery, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Sutherland Paper Company. Kalamazoo,

Mich., a corporationof Michigan Application April 11, 1947, Serial No. 740,795

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible covered containers or boxess The main objects of this invention are: v

First, to provide a covered container or box formed of an integral blank which may be very quickly and easily erected to receive its contents and the cover closed, the parts being securely retained in closed position.

Second, to provide a container having these advantages which is quite rigid when erected and provides effective protection for its contents.

Third, to provide a container structure having these advantages which may be very economically produced and shipped in the knockdown in the form of a fiat blank to be easily and quickly set up.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the container of my invention shown in closed position by full lines, the cover being shown in partially closed position by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a front perspective view with the cover partially open. I

Fig. 3 is'a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the steps in the setting up or erecting of the container.

Fig. 4. is a plan view of the container in the knockdown or fiat.

The container is desirably formed of an integral blank, scored to provide hinging connections for the several parts.

The container of my invention comprises a bottom i, front wall 2, rear wall 3, and end walls 4, these walls being hingedly connected to the bottom by the score lines 5, 6 and I, 1 respectively. The cover 8 is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the rear wall by the hinging score 1 Claims. 01. 229-36) The front wall has end slits 11 extending readily deflected to permit the front corner flaps Ill being passed through the slits, as is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The front corner members 10 are provided with upwardly projecting tongues 20 which engage the lower edges of the collapsible portions it when the end walls are erected with their front corner flaps inserted in the slits. The rear corner flaps II are disposed within the rear wall as shown in Fig- 2.

The front wall has a central longitudinal slit 2.! terminating in upwardly and inwardly directed extensions 22 providing a deflectable tongue-like portion 23 above the slit, the purpose of which will be pointed out.

The closure flap i5 is recessed centrally to provide end portions 24 which may be inserted through the slits l'| in the front wall as is shown in Fig. 1, these portions 24 overlapping the front corner flaps. The portions are provided with inwardly directed lug-like or tongue portions 25 which engage the edges of theinwardlydeflectable portions is thereby retaining the cover in closed position.

The closure flap is provided with an intermediate tongue 28 which may be snapped through the slit 2| as is shown in Fig. 1 thereby preventing end shifting movement of the closure flap and adding very materially to the rigidity of the closed container and the retaining of the parts in closed position.

The cover end flaps I3 .are disposed within the end walls when the cover is closed. The front and rear edges of these flaps l3 diverge outwardly as is shown at 21 and 28, this facilitating the engagement of the flaps when the cover is swung to closed position. The rear edges of the cover closure flaps engage the rear corner flaps II when the container is erected thus preventing these rear corner flaps .from swinging inwardly, although normal tension of the scored hinge connection tends to hold them against the inner side of the rear wall.

With the parts thus arranged, I provide a container which may be very quickly erected from the flat as shown in Fig. 4 to receive the contents and the cover quickly closed and secured in closed position. The structure when closed is able to withstand quite severe crushing and distorting stresses even when formed of relatively light material.

I have illustrated and described my invention trate or describe various adaptations or embodiments thereof which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters closure flap on its swinging edge, the said several parts being formed of an integral blank scored to provide hinging connections for the parts, the front wall having end slits opening at its end edges and extending diagonally outward from adjacent its bottom edge, the outer end portions of the slits being angularly disposed relative to their inner portions, the portions of the front wall above the slits being inwardly defiectable, the front wall also having a central longitudinal slit therein with upwardly extending inwardly converging end extensions providing a deflectable portion, the front corner flaps having upwardly directed tongues on their outer edges engageable with the lower edges of the inwardly deflectable portions of the front wall when the corner flaps are disposed through the, end slits, the closure flap being adapted to overlap the front wall and the front corner flaps engaged therewith and having end portions adapted to be inserted through the said end slits in the front wall, such portions having inwardly facing tongues engageable with the edges of the end slits, the closure flap having an intermediate tongueengageable with the central slit in said front wall whereby the end tongues are retained in engagement with the said front wall end slits, the rear corner flaps being disposed within the rear wall when the container is erected and the cover end flaps being within the end walls when the cover is closed.

2. A container comprising bottom, front, rear and end walls, the end walls having front and rear corner flaps extending from the ends thereof, and a cover connected to the top 'edge of the rear wall and having end flaps, the cover also having a clo sure flap on its swinging edge, the said several parts being formed of an integral blank scored to provide hinging connections for the parts, the front wall having end slits opening at its end edges and extending diagonally outward from adjacent its bottom edge, the outer end portions of the slits being angularly disposed relative to their inner portions, the portions of the front wall above the slits being inwardly deflectable, the front corner flaps having upwardly directed tongues on their outer edges engageable with the lower edges of the inwardly deflectable portions of the front wall whenthe corner flaps are disposed through the end slits, the closure flap being adapted'to overlap the front wall and the front corner flaps engaged therewith and having end portions adapted to be inserted through the said end slits in the front wall, such portions having inwardly facing tongues engageable with the rear wall and having end flaps. the cover also having a closure flap on its swinging edge, the front wall having end slits opening at its end edges and extending diagonally outward from ad- Jacent its bottom edge. the portions of the front wall above the slits being inwardly defiectable, the front wall also having a central longitudinal slit therein, the front corner flaps having tongues engageable with the lower edges of the inwardly defiectable portions of the front wall when the corner flaps are disposed through the end slits, the closure flap being adapted to overlap the front wall and the front corner flaps engaged there with and having end portions adapted to be inserted through the said end slits in the front wall. such portions having inwardly facing tongues engageable withthe edges of the end slits, the closure flap having an intermediate tongue engageable with the central slit in said front wall whereby the end tongues of the closure flap are retained in engagement with the said front wall end slits, the rear corner flaps being disposed within the rear wall when the container is erected and the cover end flaps being within the end walls when the cover is closed.

4. A container comprising bottom, front, rear and end walls, the end walls having front and rear corner flaps extending from the ends thereof, and a cover connected to the top edge of the rear wall and having end flaps, the cover also having a closure flap on its swinging edge, the front wall having end slits opening at its end edges and extending diagonally outward from adjacent its bottom edge, the portions of the front wall above the slits being inwardly defiectable, the front wall also having a central longitudinal slit therein, the front corner flaps having tongues engageable with the lower edges of the inwardly deflectable edges of the end slits, therear corner flaps being portions of the front wall when the corner flaps are disposed through the end slits, the closure flap being adapted to overlap the front wall and the front corner flap engaged therewith and having end portions adapted to be inserted through the said end slits in the front wall, the closure flap having an intermediate tongue engageable with the central slit in said front wall whereby the end tongues of the closure flap are retained in engagement with the said front wall end slits, the rear corner flaps being disposed within the rear wall when the container is erected and the cover end flaps being within the end walls when the cover is closed.

5. A container comprising bottom, front, rear and end walls. the end walls having front and rear corner flaps extending from the ends thereof, and

a cover connected to the top edge of the rear wall and having end flaps, the cover also having a closure flap on its swinging edge, the front wall having end slits opening at its end edges and extending diagonally outward from adjacent its bottom edge. the portions of the front wall above the slits being inwardly deflectable, the front wall also having a central longitudinal slit therein, the front corner flaps having tongues engageable with the lower edges of the inwardly deflectable portions of the front wall when the corner flaps are disposed through the end slits, the closure flap being adapted to overlap the front wall and the front corner flaps engaged therewith and having end portions adapted to be inserted through the said end slits in the front wall, the rear corner flaps being disposed within the rear wall when the container is erected and the cover end flaps being within the end walls when the cover is closed.

6. A container comprising bottom, front, rear and end walls, the end walls having front corner flaps extending from the front ends thereof, and a cover connected to the top edge of the rear wall and having a closure flap on its swinging edge. the front wall having end slits opening at its and edges and extending diagonally outward'from ad- Jacent its bottom edge. the outer end portions of the slits being angularly disposed relative to their inner portions, the portions of the front wall above the slits being inwardly deflectable, the front wall also having a central longitudinal slit therein, the front corner flaps having upwardly directed tongues on their outer edges engageable with the lower edges of the inwardly deflectable portions of the front wall when the corner flaps are disposed through the end slits, the closure flap being adapted to overlap the front wall and having end portions adapted to be inserted through the said end slits in the front wall, such 7 portions having inwardly facing tongues engageable with the edges of the end slits, the closure nap having an intermediate tongue engageable with the central slit in said front wall whereby 6 the closure end portions are retained in engagement with the said front wall end slits.

'7. A container comprising bottom, front, rear and end walls, the end walls having front corner flaps extending from the front ends thereof, and a cover connected to the top edge of the rear wall and having a closure flap on its swinging edge. the front wall having end slits opening at its end edges and extending diagonally outward from adjacent its bottom edge, thefront wall also having a central longitudinal slit therein, the front corner flaps having tongues engageable with the lower edges of the inwardly deflect'ahle portions of the front wall when the corner flaps are disposed through the end slits, the closure flap being adapted to overlap the front wall and having end portions adapted to be inserted through the said end slits in the front wall, the closure flap having an intermediate tongue engageable with the central slit in said front wall whereby the closure end portions are retained in engagement with the said front wall end slits.

' KENNETH T. BUTTERY. 

